The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1887-12-08

receives Al the oesk OF MS employer MS wages,
aud perhaps before he reaches his home is
ticle which embraces his own labor, TO return,
10 the payment OF the increase 10 price which
the tariff permits, the hard-earned compensation
Of many days of toll.
OPPRESSED AGRICULTURAL INTERESTS
The farmer aud the sgriculturist who manu-
facture nothing. but who pay the increased price
which the tariff imposes upon every agricultural
implement, upon all he wears and upon all ne
uses and owns except the increase of his docks
and herds and such things as his husbandry pro-
duces from the soil, is invited TO aid in MAINTAIN
ing the present situation and he Is told that
high duty on imported wool is necessary for the
benefit OF those who have sheep TO shear, 10 or
der that the price OF their wool may be increased
They of course are not reminded that the farmer
who has no sheep is by this scheme Obliged In
his purchases of clothing and wooden goods TO
pay a tribute to his fellow farmer as well as 10
the manufacturer and merchant; nor IS any
mention made Ofthe fact that the sheep owners
themselves and their households must wear
clothing and use other articles manufactured
from the wool they sell at tariff prices, and thus
consumers must return their share of this in
creased price to the tradesman. think II may
be fairly assumed that larger proportion OF the
sheep owned by the farmers throughout the
country are found in small flocks numbering
from twenty-five 10 fifty The duty on the grade
Of imported wool which these sheep yield is 10
cents each pound if of the value OF 80 cents or
less, and l2 cents if of the value Of more than 80
cents if the liberal estimate of six pounds be al
lowed for each fleece, the duty thereon would be
go or - cents and this may be taken AS the ut
most enhancement of the price TO the farmer by
reason of this duty. Eighteen dollars would
thus represent the increased price OF the wool
from twenty-five sheep, and thirty-six
dollars that from the wool of fifty
sheep, and at present values this adj
1.es2 70 tOrrf bird
ofiis price II, upon its sale, the farmer receives
this. or a less tariff profit, the wool leaves his
hands charged with precisely that sum, all of
which charges will adhere to it until il reaches
the consumer When manufactured into cloth
and other material for use, its cost is not only in
creased to the extent of the farmers tariff profit,
but further sum has been added for the benefit
of the manufacture under the operation OF other
tariff laws
THE TAX on CLOTHING.
In the meantime the day arrives when the
farmer finds il necessary to purchase wooden
clothes and material 10 clothe himself and fam
lily for the winter; when he faces the trades
men for that purpose he discovers that he is
obliged not only to return in the way of in
creased prices his tariff profit on the wool he
sold, and which then perhaps lies before him in
manufactured form, but that he must add con-
siderable sum there to meet further increase in
cost caused by tariff duty on the manufacture.
Illus, III luc Gnu, lie II dTOuScu 10 the ldCl Indt
he has paid upon \ moderate purchase re-
suit of the tariff scheme, which, when he sold
his wool seemed profitable, increase IN
price more than sufficient to sweep away all the
tariff profit he received upon the wool be pro-
duced and sold.
When the number of farmers engaged in
wool raising is compared with all the farmers in
the country, and the small proportion they bear
10 our population is considered: when il is made
apparent that in the case OF large part of those
who own sheep, the benefit of the present tariff
on wool is illusory; and above all, when it
must be conceded that the increase of the cost of
living caused by such tariff becomes burden
upon those with moderate means and the poor,
the employed and unemployed, the sick and
well. and the young and old; and that it con-
siIiuies a tax which with relentless grasp is
fastened upon the clothing of every man. woman
and child in the land, these reasons are sug-
gesied why the removal or reduction of this
duty should be included in a revision of our
tariff laws-in speaking OF the increased cost to
the consumer of our home manufactures-re-
sulling from duty laid upon imported articles of
the same description.
THE NATTER OF COMPETITION.
The fact is not overlooked that competition
among our domestic producers sometimes has
the effect of helping the price of their products
below the highest limit allowed by such duty
But it is notorious that this competition is too
strongly by combinations quite prevalent at this
time and frequently called trusts, which have
for their objects the regulation OF supply and the
price Of commodities made and sold by members
of the combination. The people can hardly
hope for any consideration in the operation of
these selfish schemes. If, however, 10 the alb
sence of such combination, healthy and free
competition reduces the price of any particular
duiiabe article OF home production below the
limit which il might Otherwise reach under our
tariff laws, and if, with such reduced price, its
manufacture continues to thrive, il is entirely
evidenithat one thing has been discovered which
should be fully scrulinized in an effort to reduce
taxation. The necessity of a combination to
maintain the price OF a commodity to the tariff
point furnishes proof that some one is willing to
accept lower prices for such commodity, and
that prices are remunerative, and lower prices
produced by competition prove the same
thing. Thus where either of those conditions
exist, a case would seem TO be presented for an
easy reduction of taxation.
PATRIOTIC CONSIDERATIONS
The considerations which have been presented
touching our tariff laws are intended only to en-
force an earnest recommendation that the sur
plus revenues Of the government be prevented by
the reduction of our customs duties and at the
same time 10 emphasize suggestion that in &C
complishing this purpose, we may discharge a
double duty to our people, by granting to them
measure of relief from tariff taxation in quar-
tiers where it is most needed and from sources
wherein il can be most fairly and justly accorded;
nor can the presentation made of such consider
atoms be- with any degree of fairness, regarded
as evidence of unfriendliness toward our manu-
scturers interests, or OF any lack of appreciation
of their value and importance These interests
constitute a leading and most substantial ele-
ment OF our national greatness, and furnish the
proud proof our countrys progress But ifn the
emergency that presses upon u.s. our manufactur-
ers are asked to surrender something for the pub
lie good, and TO divert disaster their patriotism,
as well q gratified recognition of advantages
already afforded, should lead them TO willing CO
operation. No demand is made that they shall
forego all the benefits of governmental regard
but they cannot fail to be admonished of their
duty well their enlightened self interest and
safety, when they are reminded of the fact that
financial panic and collapse to which the present
condition tends affords no greater shelter or pro-
lection to our manufactures than to our other i'm
portant enterprises.
Opportunity for safe, careful and deliberate
reform is now offered and none of US should be
unmindful of q time when an abused and irri.
taied people, needless of those who have re.
sisted timely and reasonable relief, may insist
upon a radical and sweeping rectifcation of their
Wrongs-
THE DUTY OF CONGRESS.
The difficulty attending q wise and fair re-
vision of our tariff laws is not underestimated
Ii will require on the part OF the Congress great
tional contemplation OF the subject, and patri-
oiic disregard of such local and selfish claims
as are unreasonable and reckless of the welfare
Of the entire country. In the present laws
more than 1900 articles are subject 10 duty
MANY Of these do not in any way compete with
our own manufacturers, and many are hardly
worth attention as subjects Of revenue A con-